What is the pass mark for the NMC CBT numeracy test, and how is it set out?
Quick answer
The NMC test specification says the current pass mark for Part A numeracy is 87%, which is 13 out of 15 questions correct1. Part A has 15 questions in 30 minutes2, and an on-screen calculator is available3. The candidate booklet gives no figure, so we checked each document ourselves.
On this page
What is the pass mark for Part A?
The NMC test specification states it: "The current pass mark for Part A numeracy is 87% (candidates must get 13 out of 15 questions correct)."1 Part A is passed or failed on its own, apart from Part B2. The NMC sets a separate standard for each part1.
The NMC test specification gives the Part A pass mark as 87%, which means 13 out of 15 correct.1
The clinical part has its own marks. The specification says the Part B pass marks vary across nursing fields and are generally set within a range of 60% to 70%1.
How is the CBT set out?
The CBT has 2 parts2. Together they make one test of 115 questions with 3 hours allowed, and each question is scored as correct or incorrect3.
| Part | Questions | Time | Answer style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: Numeracy | 152 | 30 minutes2 | Short answers that need a numerical answer3 |
| Part B: Clinical | 1002 | 2 hours and 30 minutes2 | Multiple choice, 4 options and 1 correct answer1 |
What are the calculator and answering rules?
- You do your calculations on the erasable note board, then type your answer on screen. An on-screen calculator is available.3
- The booklet tells you to spend a maximum of 2 minutes on each numeracy question.3
- You can review and change answers, and a wrong or blank answer does not lose marks.3
- Personal items go in a locker, and you may write on the note board only after the tutorial is complete.3
What does the numeracy part cover?
The questions are applied ones, such as drug calculations used for dispensing, and you may need to give the correct unit1. The specification spreads the 15 questions like this1:
| Topic | Questions in Part A |
|---|---|
| Measuring the correct dose | 21 |
| Metric units | 21 |
| Oral medications | 41 |
| Injections | 31 |
| Intravenous infusions | 31 |
| Fluid balance | 11 |
The NMC points to free CBT practice tests on the Pearson Professional Assessments website. They are open to all and need no booking2. We also built our own free numeracy practice. It is our own material, not NMC or Pearson VUE questions, and it does not predict your result.
What happens if you do not pass Part A?
You resit only the part you failed2. A Part A resit costs £50 and takes 30 minutes23. You have 3 attempts in one application, at least 10 days apart and all within 1 year2. After 3 failed attempts your application closes, and you wait 6 months before a new application and a new CBT2.
What did we find when we checked the figures?
When we last checked (the date is in the sources list below), we read the NMC's CBT web page, last updated on 11 September 20262, the CBT candidate booklet3 and the test specification1. All three describe the 2 parts of the CBT2, but only one gives a pass mark figure.
| What we looked at | What it says about the Part A pass mark |
|---|---|
| Test specification | Gives the figure: 87%, or 13 out of 151 |
| Candidate booklet, version 3, April 2025 | Gives no figure. It says an initial standard is set and statistical techniques keep it steady across versions3 |
| CBT web page, last updated 11 September 2026 | Gives no pass mark. It covers structure, fees, booking and resits2 |
Other websites quote different Part A marks. Some give a higher mark than the NMC figure, and some say every question must be right. We have not checked where they got their numbers, and we do not name them. The only figure we found on an NMC page is the one above. The specification calls it the current pass mark but carries no date, so ask the NMC if your result depends on the exact mark. For the order of the whole process, see CBT or OSCE first and the Australian RN OSCE day. Our CBT course is private training, not an NMC product.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my own calculator?
The booklet says an on-screen calculator is available and that personal items go in a locker3. It names no other calculator. If you need something different, ask the NMC or Pearson VUE before test day.
Do wrong answers lose marks?
No. The booklet says the CBT does not use negative scoring for an unanswered or wrong answer, and you can review and change answers3.
Can I get extra time?
Reasonable adjustments can include up to 25% additional time, depending on your needs. You ask by email before you book the test, or at least 10 days before your test date3.
When do I get my result?
You get an exam report directly after the CBT, with a pass or fail for each part, and your Pearson account shows the result within 48 hours2. The NMC says it cannot give you further feedback on your results2.
Sources
Each number in the text links to the document the fact comes from. We keep a dated copy of every source with its SHA-256 fingerprint, so we can show what it said on the day we checked it.
- Source 1: NMC: The Test of Competence 2021 (nursing), test specification for candidates. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), checked 2 November 2026.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/registration/toc-21/toc-21-test-specification---nursing.pdf - Source 2: NMC: Test of Competence, the computer-based test (CBT) page. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), checked 2 November 2026.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-nursing-and-midwifery/cbt/ - Source 3: NMC: Test of Competence Part 1, nursing, candidate information booklet for the CBT, V.3 updated April 2025. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), checked 2 November 2026.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/registration/toc-materials-2023/nursing-handbooks/test-of-competence-2021-cbt-information-booklet-for-nurses.pdf
Aptia Skills is a private training company. It is not connected with the NMC, Pearson VUE, Ahpra, the NMBA or any government, and this guide does not replace what the regulator or the test centre tells you.